•Water-soluble vitamins are micronutrients essential to human body functioning.•Existing reference values may not be adequate to diagnose vitamin deficiency.•There are sex-, age-, and season-related ...variations in vitamin levels.•Some vitamin reference values should be lowered and others raised.•This change may improve diagnostic accuracy and prevent overconsumption.
We aimed to establish reference intervals for water-soluble vitamins determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to improve the diagnosis of vitamin deficiency and outcomes of associated conditions.
In this retrospective analysis of 24 810 specimens, we aimed to examine sex-, age-, and season-related variations in vitamin levels in different groups, set reference-value intervals for vitamin levels, and evaluate these reference values against those recommended by manufacturers.
Levels of vitamins B3, B5, B6, B7, and B12 were higher, and those of vitamins B2, B9, and C were lower, in men than in women. There were seasonal variations in levels of vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, and C. Levels of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and C differed across age groups; vitamin B1 displayed significant differences between ages 0 to 14 years and adults compared with reference change values. The lower limits of vitamins B1 (ages 15–100 y), B2, B3, B7, and C were lower, and that of vitamin B5 was higher, than the recommended reference values. Finally, the upper limits of vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, and B7 were lower than the recommended values.
For values obtained using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, the lower limits of reference intervals for vitamins B1 (ages 15–100 y), B2, B3, B7, and C should be lowered, that of vitamin B5 should be raised, and the upper limits of reference intervals for vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, and B7 should be lowered.
The effects of key parameters on locked mode induced disruption (LMiD) are investigated in EAST experiments. The experimental data for locked mode are collected from 2015 to 2022 when the externally ...applied resonant magnetic perturbation is successfully employed in EAST. In this dataset, ∼42% of the total shots are LMiD, while the remaining 58% are LM without disruption. To better analyze the LMiD, an intuitive physical process is proposed. The LMiD process can be divided into two stages, the evolution of magnetic islands and the loss of plasma stored energy. The LMiD can also be related to the evolution of the other 8 physical quantities. On the basis of this physical process analysis, the time scale and the influencing factors for LMiD are investigated using statistical analysis. It is found that the density (ne), the distance from the magnetic island outer boundary to the plasma last closed surface (dedge), the loop-voltage (Vloop), and the plasma core electron temperature (Te), which are consistent with the intuitive physical model, are key parameters to LMiD. In addition, other potentially important parameters, the relevant reasons, and statistical analysis on the parameter intervals where rapid disruption with greater harmfulness occurred have also been investigated.
Minor ischemic stroke (MIS) represents a major global public health problem worldwide due to high incidence. The aim of this study was to investigate whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a strong ...risk for MIS and subsequent vascular events (SVE).
A retrospective cohort study was performed examining symptomatic MIS in a Chinese neurologic outpatient population aged over 25 years without history of stroke. MetS was defined using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. MIS was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging-diffusion weighted images or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery.
Of 1361 outpatients, a total of 753 (55.3%) patients were diagnosed with MIS; of them, 80% had a score of 0 using the MIS had a 0 score on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Among these, 303 (40.2%) individuals with MIS were diagnosed with MetS. Diagnosed of MIS with MetS significantly correlated with abdominal obesity (30.7% v.s 18.0%), hypertension (91.1% v.s 81.6%), increased blood glucose (6.9±2.4 v.s 5.0±0.4), dyslipidemia (78.2% v.s 48.2%), and SVE (50.5% v.s 11.3%) when compared with the controls group. On adjusted analysis, the risk of SVE was also significantly associated with three additional MetS criterion (RR,9.0; 95% CI, 5.677-14.46). Using Cox proportional analysis, risk of SVE in patient with MIS was significantly associated with MetS (RR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.799-6.210), older age (RR, 1.0; 95% CI, 1.001-1.048), and high blood glucose (RR,1.1; 95%CI, 1.007-1.187).
The MetS is a strong risk factor for MIS, and patients presenting with MIS and MetS are at a high risk of SVE. Further studies are required to determine the improvement of Mets prevention in the reduction of MIS and SVE.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This paper reports on the application of low-grade sensible waste heat (liquid phase) driven multi-effect distillation (MED) technology to exploit waste heat sources that are generally abundant in ...the petrochemical industries especially, those located close to the Persian Gulf's coastline. For this purpose, a techno-economic feasibility study by considering local capital and operating costs for a selected petrochemical plant has been conducted. In this study, a sensible waste heat stream (practically at 80 °C in the liquid phase), which is actively cooled by the cooling process of the plant, is considered as the heat source for the proposed desalination process. This process can recover around 10% of the boiler-grade water demand (namely 644 m3/day out of 6000 m3/day) of the selected petrochemical plant. A detailed capital and operating costs and cash flow analysis are presented to show the economic viability of this kind of waste heat source for desalination purpose in petrochemical industries in Iran. Our study points to a net present value of 1.46 million USD with about 4.5 year payback period at a discount rate of 15%.
•A techno-economic model for low-grade heat driven desalination process has been developed in Petrochemical industries•An 80°C waste heat stream has been utilised to produce freshwater in a petrochemical plant•The process can recover around 10% of the boiler-grade water demand of the selected petrochemical plant•The unit product cost is around 11% less than the purchase price of the water•A net present value of 1.46 million USD with about 4.5 year payback period at a discount rate of 15% has been evaluated
Based on a specific nucleophilic addition reaction with cyanide, a dicyano-vinyl-containing conjugated polymer (P1) has been designed and synthesized as a colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for ...cyanide anion. The combination of advantages of both reaction-based sensors and conjugated polymer sensors offers its highly sensitive and selective recognition of CN–. The addition of CN– to P1 solution induced a change in the solution color from yellow-green to colorless, while no color change could be observed in presence of other common anions, by which CN– can be identified from other anions directly with the naked eye. At the same time, a 31.6-fold fluorescence quenching was achieved upon adding CN– into P1 solution. The fluorescence quenching has shown a linear response to CN– in the concentration range of 0.5–30 μM. Furthermore, its detection limit for CN– can be as low as 14 ppb, which is among the best results for the fluorescent conjugated polymer-based cyanide chemosensors. Compared with its small molecular counterpart, P1 exhibits higher sensitivity and selectivity, wider linear region, and faster response.
Pneumocystis is a life-threatening fungal pathogen that frequently causes fatal pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised individuals. Recently, B cells have been reported to play a crucial role in the ...pathogenesis of PCP through producing antibodies and activating CD4+ T cell response. Exosomes are nanoscale small extracellular vesicles abundant with protein cargo and can mediate immune response during infectious disease. In this study, using tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics coupled with bioinformatic analysis, we attempted to characterize exosomes derived from B lymphocytes in response to PCP. Several proteins were verified by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis. Also, the effects of B cell exosomes on CD4+ T cell response and phagocytic function of macrophages were clarified. Briefly, 1701 proteins were identified from B cell exosomes, and the majority of them were reported in Vesiclepedia. A total of 51 differentially expressed proteins of B cell exosomes were found in response to PCP. They were mainly associated with immune response and transcription regulation. PRM analysis confirmed the significantly changed levels of histone H1.3, vimentin, and tyrosine-protein phosphatase nonreceptor type 6 (PTPN6). Moreover, a functional study revealed the proinflammatory profile of B cell exosomes on CD4+ T cell response in PCP. Taken together, our results suggest the involvement of exosomes derived from B cells in cell-to-cell communication, providing new information on the function of B cells in response to PCP.
Using accounting data for 7722 non-financial firms in 42 countries, we examine how the 2007–2009 crisis affected firm performance and how various linkages propagated shocks across borders. We isolate ...and compare effects from changes in business cycle, international trade, and external financing conditions, on firms' profits, sales and investment using both sectoral benchmarks and firm-specific sensitivities estimated prior to the crisis. We find that the crisis had a bigger negative impact on firms with greater sensitivity to business cycle and trade developments, particularly in countries more open to trade. Interestingly, financial openness made limited difference.
► We study how the 2007–09 crisis affected firms' profits, sales and investment. ► We isolate effects from changes in business cycle, international trade, and financing conditions. ► We further examine how various linkages propagated shocks across borders. ► The crisis had a bigger negative impact on firms with greater sensitivity to business cycle and trade. ► Trade openness propagated shocks, while financial openness made limited difference.
Epidemiologists have recently investigated sunlight exposure as a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but there remains an ongoing dispute over this association due to ...insufficient evidence and unreliable data.
To analyse comprehensively the epidemiological literature concerning the association between AMD and sunlight exposure.
We systematically reviewed the epidemiological literature concerning the association between AMD and sunlight exposure. An electronic search was performed of PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI, which was supplemented by hand searching. The selection of studies, data abstraction and quality assessment were performed independently by three reviewers. After these steps, we performed a random-effects meta-analysis, followed by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis, including a random-effects meta-regression for study-specific covariates.
Fourteen studies were identified. Twelve studies identified an increasing risk of AMD with greater sunlight exposure, six of which reported significant risks. The pooled OR was 1.379 (95% CI 1.091 to 1.745). The subgroup of non-population-based studies revealed a significant risk (OR 2.018, 1.248 to 3.265, p=0.004). We identified the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (p=0.048), but not the latitude (p=0.21), as a factor that led to heterogeneity according to the meta-regression.
The epidemiological literature published to date indicates that individuals with more sunlight exposure are at a significantly increased risk of AMD. The OR significantly decreased with increasing GDP per capita.
The pathology of sepsis‐associated encephalopathy (SAE) is related to astrocyte‐inflammation associated with aquaporin‐4 (AQP4). The aim here is to investigate the effects of AQP4 associated with SAE ...and reveal its underlying mechanism causing cognitive impairment. The in vivo experimental results reveal that AQP4 in peripheral blood of patients with SAE is up‐regulated, also the cortical and hippocampal tissue of cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) mouse brain has significant rise in AQP4. Furthermore, the data suggest that AQP4 deletion could attenuate learning and memory impairment, attributing to activation of astrocytic autophagy, inactivation of astrocyte and downregulate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines induced by CLP or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, the activation effect of AQP4 knockout on CLP or LPS‐induced PPAR‐γ inhibiting in astrocyte is related to intracellular Ca2+ level and sodium channel activity. Learning and memory impairment in SAE mouse model are attenuated by AQP4 knockout through activating autophagy, inhibiting neuroinflammation leading to neuroprotection via down‐regulation of Nav1.6 channels in the astrocytes. This results in the reduction of Ca2+ accumulation in the cell cytosol furthermore activating the inhibition of PPAR‐γ signal transduction pathway in astrocytes.
SAE mouse model is constructed by cecal ligation and perforation for in vivo experiments and consequent electrophysiology, behavior, and molecular analysis. Primary astrocytes are cultured and stimulated by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for in vitro analysis. The pictographic flowchart theorizes that AQP4 aggravates sepsis‐induced neuronal injury and cognitive dysfunction by inhibiting autophagy and activating an inflammatory response in astrocytes.
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